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What you need to know about Alzheimer's

Monday, September 25th

Transcript - Not for consumer use. Robot overlords only. Will not be accurate.

Thank you again for joining me and see any wires in this is neighbors in need today we're talking about the disease that kid impact in effect anyone of us we're speaking about alzheimer's today we have Samantha and from the Alzheimer's Association him thank you so much for taking time grass today thanks for having me what gave. First and how to act is Davis we're dealt. Alzheimer Ers know alzheimer's it is a difficult third I wish we could change yet but reunited Al is alzheimer's as we discovered. Alzheimer's disease and so that's how it is named and so we are stuck with his last name anybody else grow up piggy was alt. Timers I certainly had an easier alzheimer's. Alta a look at whatever. Timers association however you say it in its it's something that we. We get a really around because there's sole many unanswered questions are so much more research. And it needs to be done. There are there are so there are five million people in the United States currently living with the man on million gas and it you know it's it's not only a burden on those of us that stuff are living with the disease. But it's also Auburn and all the caregivers. You know they estimate that for every person living with dementia they have about four or five family caregivers are friends or neighbors that are all. A part of helping them to live with the disease and you know it affects a lot of people out there so we really need to worked for anemic here. And it's one of those really heartbreaking. Diseases I mean they all are any time. You're living with anything that's you know is cold a disease it's heartbreaking to watch a loved one but this specifically. Because it tends to be your ma am. Who is their crew is your rock who's the person who took care view your dad your grandparents. And then you watch them. Get a W wire. Oh Larry you know forget how to do the simple things in life. Absolutely it you know it's. Unlike other diseases that can be difficult and fifteen and physical problems this is one that you know really affects your relationships. Which is really tough for a lot of people. In a Seattle on and the only numbers maybe I don't live near your parents and you come home for holiday or birthday and you see them in you've seen this decline in net. It happens in house he seemingly overnight although it's probably something that's been going on for a while. And and it's very difficult because it changes your whole relationship with that person. You know every sedated sometimes it could be going on for awhile is there any being. It early detection sometimes. Is a good thing with. This. Obsolete we get that question a lot because. You know because there is no cure and there is no way necessarily to slow it down right now. We get a lot of questions of what is the honor if it's attacked and let you know hot but though the reason why you wanna have early detection you wanna know about it is because you can manage it matter. So you know they they believe now with some of the things that you can do to manage to mention that you can actually. Age in place for longer sometimes up to one to two years longer. Instead of going maybe in facility which you know can change finance financial situations it's you know can be really nicer feel me how. Remarks and with a loved one and so it really managing it can make a big difference in and the family's life and you know it's different for everybody everybody. Lives with dementia a little bit differently and it progresses a little bit differently for everybody but when you say managing what do you mean. So there's lots of different ways it's a sort of manage at you know some of it is figuring out how to deal with some difficult situations for instance you know there are. Problems that people deal with like wandering my beloved animals sort of think that they're going for a walk an expert of confusing at Austin Dillon fat. Yeah alzheimer's association for instance offers things like week we have a program in heaven medical or brace at least on. Not own me yet allot one with dementia but even yourself so if something happens to you know looks out they'll knowledge that. Avalon on your caregiver for that mania I'll alone and now if you're in a car accident and an article and all so. Things like that that are really important because you know wondering doesn't seem to be an issue until it happens one name and news you need to be prepared for those types of things. At what points. At what point do you say OK. I have to convince my loved one. They need either to move in with me are we need to find a place for them you know I. It's sort of different for arbor but it depends on the situation venture and we have some wonderful experts and social workers at the house numbers association that Kentucky through those types of decisions and even. The decisions made before about like you know maybe when is it time to have honored adds up driving. You know things like that that maybe happens sort of early that is just not messy situation and and they can help you and help you talk to your doctors about evaluating the situation and answered when it the next best apps. Arms of her we have a 24 hour help line. That's a wonderful resource. Because they can be middle deny it on a Saturday and Sunday as they aired a sort of talk you through May be what's going on. Instant runoff enough people realize that you weren't there when he forced out. 24/7 and Anthony 800 number 802723900. And somebody will answer that can't be able to help you in whatever situation you may be and and you know it's it's a line that's wonderful because it can be used if you're in sort of what we call a crisis where something is happening how he you know maybe. Mom or dad who's living with the magic got up communal nightmare agitated and you're not quite sure how to calm them down. But it also can use says it just may be the only time you've got to call and it may be elite I eat your kids to bad and you want some answers to questions and you can Colin just it's an information or. A referral to who won a medical you know practitioner you can look at that thing. Referrals you running go to doctors that you know will really take care of mom and dad or whoever will be absolutely. So and in any question you ask. There's no off limit question there's no off when they questioned and you know they they can market threat like a sudden if they can't answer particularly as someone who can. If they can refer you to people like the Hulk with insurance paperwork. Oh god yeah you know we offer respite which is a program where they will have a home health aide come into your home force in our Seton get out and but it church oracle grocery shopping or do something for you to make your life a little bit easier so. All those resources are totally available and almost all of them are free. I'm OK so what is the one resource that you think it not enough people are taking advantage of just because they're not aware. And probably need. If I had to say I would say it's probably our support groups you have a lot of people that come our support groups but I think. And not for everybody I think every situations different menu key and be among a group of people that are all sort of dealing you're seeing struggles and living your daily life and it in their own amazing to hear about you know they're wins and losses and and can be really really wonderful and we've had some people that have just. Each it's changed their lives just to have that connection to others that are you know figuring out my Olympic that's. And you know it's the caregiver life is difficult that's not an easy. Easy thing to go through and Anna have certain of that friendship that you can have a others that understand you can be very helpful. In we say we often say it takes a village to raise a kid well it takes a village Stan. Take care of somebody with dementia it's very true it especially in you know when it's in HR Kelly about maybe being mom and dad and and you have your maybe your family of your own in you've got a job full time and you're trying to take care of every kind of everybody. It can't it's it's can be difficult so you know on these resources are available help line journey Alzheimer's Association. Wearing with Sam and we're just learning a little bit more abouts dementia and alzheimer's and I wanna get into how. How is the best way to take care of somebody who's living with it but first let's talk about the conference that you guys just got back from yes we have about a month ago. Our annual conference in London it's an international conference of researchers. I come together and all talk about their recent findings what's been going on in the last year and share information. And it's a really wonderful way to show the progress that arm making too large in our our mission for care. OK so what are some findings that you thought where all well that's surprising. So some of the findings one was that they determine in my study that they think up to 13 or 35% of dementia cases are actually preventable through lifestyle changes. So they identified these nine risk factors. That all have a connection to demand always alzheimer's later in life so. Those risk factors included actually early education end. Hypertension and obesity hearing loss depression diabetes. Physical inactivity. Smoking and most social content. So those are all you know some of those we already knew about some unanswered Neil and I think it's just it reinforces the idea that. You know by living a healthy lifestyle and trying to keep some of these things intact that we can reduce our risk and try to prevent. Dementia yeah the early childhood education. That was that all real and hearing loss moon. Physical activity is is AS social contact is really big as well and you know some of those factors may be tied together. If yours are experiencing some hearing cost maybe you're sort of on comfortable in groups of people some mean people socially a little bit. Concern of bacon worked together and throw or her pierce a human in the long run so. You know all those things are it's important man and cheering us it's important to be out there and keep your social network in the things that you love. To do we got to keep doing them. Every time you guys can manually say to treat your brain as it is like a muscle yeah you don't work out that mosque so it won't stay strong. We knew as you age as you get older is it Smart or is it encouraged to force yourself to learn new things because it keeps working out that. Muscle actually. You know it's important to learning things it's also important to just do the things that your passion and now. You know there's been some really interesting studies they found of people that have. You know had dementia and progress through the disease but they don't forget things like a certain skill that they. Are. For instance beef had some interesting things where somebody late in life who is who is living with dementia picked up and found out that they could peaked. And created some beautiful works of say you know that's all sort of part of this it's really interesting how the brain works and where we're continuing to learn about that. But most importantly your right learning new things and continuing to have progressed and it things that you care about you love to deal are really really important. The I had my little 18 year old is seeking guitar writes and my dad pulled out his guitar which I've never once seen him why it's his leg before he had asked. Peoples and I use are learning and he's playing. Let me say anxious and music coming to get this is so good freely here H. We have social activities that he can be a part of through the Alzheimer's Association. And they do things like arts they do things like music they do DF. You know as simple as they'll go to museums take trips to museums and learn a little bit on the air so. Those aborigines are even available to you at Al level at that's from the your interest and now as a caregiver give us some tips give us some advice. You know it use your network who I think that's the biggest thing. I think caregivers have to know that they're not alone. And there are not only friends and neighbors you know EU when some things sort of bad happens in life you always have those neighbors that they. Anything you need money now. And often we take up on it great but we shouldn't mean this is your opportunity when you're when you're in a difficult place and especially. With dementia when you know your loved one can live with this disease for years you know it can be at and your journey. That you know it's important to take friends and Stanley up I'm not opportunities and to reach out to you know. Association and my costs or other groups I can sort of offer assistance. Has really important keep. Going visible and can make caregivers to it. And it makes you cringe. Don't take care of themselves I think that that's that's vague and they and there's a there also is a lot of research that says that actually. He beware caregivers tend to have like worse health than people who are your neighbors and they stop and they don't worry about themselves and just like. A lot of moms and dads out there worried about their kids and don't go to the doctor and then you know aren't sleeping rain. All of a sudden they find themselves you know. Think with a cold it's it's a similar thing where you have to pay attention you into your view and that will allow you to be a better care giver to opt out. I let's go through sends scenarios and how it was deal with how to take care of them so. The edge striving and you can tell. You probably shouldn't be behind the wheel but. He is so darn stubborn didn't do any refuses to give up the keys. How do you navigate that situation. You know that's a great opportunity to actually to. There. You know they they had the doctor of relayed the bad you have to think I can yell a lot easier that way and in fact he now going to a doctor in talking about maybe some of the issues that are going on. Doctors can actually request I think Alex and is be taken away at things like that so. Sometimes. You know not not being that bad guy can be really how fault but I think also sitting down and talking for ruled that you know the safety risks and know you care about obviously our current adding you don't want to have been hammered how many petty Allison sharing sort of the concern part of that. May be an easier way to have that conversation. I would've not me a lot in the house she has no clue who you are or she thinks she'll. In that moment you you want to downplay any strikes that he can NC don't wanna beat it's you know stress out the situation. And like I said we have some wonderful social workers that are available to sort of talked it through all of those situations and how to deal and found. But in fact some lovely stories come out of things like that. We have constituent of ours I was living with dementia and his wife has told us that he has asked her to marry him three times on the past ten years and they've been married forever and just he is falling and Robin are all over again like they're young. And it's it's very very sweet actually in anyway and just get in their world wherever there and you just. And pain. I think that's our big concern them witness I don't think it's a physical pain you know like you would think with other injuries that you may have to your body. You know all allotted times it's the confusion can be what's the hardest part because in many ways especially sort of early. They know they're used. They know something's not right or may be that they asked this question before and it today else it early I'm making and a and you know we actually have a whole series. Education classes where people that are maybe. Just diagnosed. And they can sort of learn from. Strategies T understand what's going on examine how to deal with app because. That is sort of its own difficulty when new assertive Knoll something's not right. It's especially once you get to a certain point. In the progression. Can be much harder on the caregivers is it landing. Airing. FB therefore around me you know bid on participate in their life he and socially active as much as you can. You know those are all relieved. They're good for the person living with dementia but there. For the families. Plan their fall and again we can reach out to you at any time you planning on him in the labs and again moments and Cassel is our phone number is 80272. 3900. And again not as many farce of an availability and our website as LB dot. Her next and then there's a big run on October 21 it is a walk to and alzheimer's. At Jeff Frontieres fields and then a little bit before that October 7 is the Jenin day while locked by October 21. Frontieres fields we'll meet yup they're in 3000 people yeah as it should be packed and a lot of fun bringing kids bring a whole damn thing very time OK watch and alzheimer's Sam thank you so much thanks for having me in.